Higher performing, low carbon buildings

Clients are demanding better performing, visually exciting but efficient spaces while the pressures of legislation, particularly those around energy and sustainability are mounting and will continue to do so over the next ten years and beyond.

In this environment it will not be possible to meet these demands by simply bolting on solutions to a building that is already designed – a new approach is needed.

The impact of form, structure, finish and orientation

We believe that the key is to get the building itself, the form, structure and finish to respond to its environment and passively provide light, heating and cooling.

With the careful use of shading, mass, form and orientation, a building can be designed to provide excellent internal conditions with minimal assistance from mechanical systems on all but the most extreme days.

Learn what the building wants to do

This can only be achieved if the performance of the building is considered from the very outset of the design process. By assessing the behaviour of design options, massing and materials, and understanding the interaction between the building and the location, the choices made by the architect and developer can be both informed and assessed.

It allows the design team to learn “what the building wants to do” and embrace and exploit the natural behaviour of the building, rather than attempt to force the structure to perform at a later stage with a vast array of mechanical and electrical systems.

Optimise what the building will actually do

To understand and enhance building design from the outset, the hurleypalmerflatt building physics team uses its sophisticated modelling tools to capture the essentials of a concept design. Using these models we compare design options and provide options for further refinement to maximise the performance of the building itself.

Our studies give an understanding of the factors driving performance, cost-benefit comparisons of options. They allow informed choices to be made as the design is developed towards Stage C and beyond.

Your views

We believe that this is the way that all buildings will be designed and developed in the future and that is the only way to develop an exemplar building today.

Do you agree? Have you used virtual engineering and modelling to inform your design?